Respiratory illness could be prevented from Microsoft Xbox Kinect

London: Microsoft’s Xbox Kinect, a popular sensor-based gaming console – can assess the respiratory function of patients and spot conditions such as cystic fibrosis, researchers including an Indian origin scientist report.

The team from the University of Warwick and the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham and Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust (HEFT) have developed a method to use the gaming device.

The system consists of four Kinect sensors which are capable of quickly creating a 3D image of a patient’s torso.

This enables physicians to measure and assess how a chest wall moves.

In tests, it has proven to be as accurate as a patient breathing into a spirometer, the current method used, but providing additional information about the movement of the chest, which could help in identifying numerous respiratory problems.

“In screening, diagnostics, monitoring therapy and providing bio feedback, the Xbox can be used in any condition affecting breathing, “said Babu Naidu, chief investigator, a thoracic surgeon at HEFT.

“We have developed a low-cost prototype which provides a more comprehensive measurement of a patient’s breathing then existing methods, “added Dr Chris Golby at the Institute of Digital Healthcare, University of Warwick.

Spirometry is the technique most commonly used to treat lung diseases including chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic obstructive airways.

The academics put their prototype to trial initially using a resuscitation mannequin, then on healthy volunteers and adults with cystic fibrosis.

As the Kinect has an infrared beam it allowed them to measure changes in distances across the chest wall.

The system uses four sensors which allow measurement of movement from more than one viewpoint.

Using off-the-shelf and bespoke software they were able to create a 3D image of a patient’s chest wall.

“It is also potentially very useful in assessing changes in respiratory physiology that occur during exercise. This is in contrast with existing systems which rely on data from one viewpoint,” Dr Golby noted in a paper published in the journal Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing.

The team is now planning to develop their prototype further using Microsoft’s new version of the Kinect, working with cystic fibrosis and other respiratory conditions.(IANS)

The Microsoft Surface family of devices has registered high double-digit growth in the Indian market this year and the game changer Surface Go is set to add heavily to that next year, a company executive said here on Tuesday.

According to Priyadarshi Mohapatra, Country General Manager, Consumer & Devices, Microsoft India, the device has a clear edge over its rivals in the market when it comes to a laptop or a near-desktop experience with a 2-in-1 device.

“In Surface Go, you have latest Windows 10 and a suite of Microsoft apps, for a pure laptop experience on the go. No other tablet or a 2-in-1 can make your work life easier than this device,” Mohapatra told IANS.

Launched officially in India on Tuesday, Surface Go with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage is available for Rs 38,599 while the 8GB RAM and 128GB variant can be purchased for Rs 50,999.

“It is a perfect companion when it comes to mix work with fun. I am sure the device will leave a lasting impression on the Indian millennials,” he added.

Pre-order Microsoft Surface Go now on Flipkart in India. (IANS)

Weighing just 1.15 pounds and 8.3 mm thin, the 10-inch, two-in-one portable device comes with the Surface Pen — with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and a 3:2 high-resolution “PixelSense” custom calibrated display designed to render the pages of most school textbooks.

Powered by the 7th Generation Intel Pentium Gold Processor 4415Y and protected by Gorilla Glass 3, the device offers up to nine hours of battery life.

Surface Go also has several ports for various needs, including Surface Connect for charging and docking, USB-C 3.1 for data, video, and charging, a headphone jack and a MicroSD card reader for storage expansion.

“Surface Go is our answer for users who are looking for a portable and versatile device that suits their budgets, but without compromising what they have grown to love about our line-up,” said Mohapatra. (IANS)